Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Edy's / Dreyer's Rolling Out Frozen Custard

[New for early 2015] So a few days ago, I was sent a tweet telling me that Edy's (Dreyer's) website has been updated with a new product line: FROZEN CUSTARD! As Edy's steps further away from the disaster that is frozen dairy dessert, they surprise us with six fun sounding flavors:

And look, it's already in the freezer section! (photo sent in by Ayumi)

Nutrition facts range from 200-250 calories per serving and the container size is just one quart, so I expect a pretty respectable product inside. Even the ingredient lists seem fairly short (well, besides a reliance on four different gums). We'll definitely be reviewing these as they become available this month.

Now these aren't on the website yet, but Ayumi also found new Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars in Mango, Peach, and Strawberry (and Blueberry). My gut tells me it's trying to compete with Fruttare (despite being froyo vs milk), though I guess it could be competing with Yoplait as well. I'm not a huge fan of ultra thick bars (like they appear on the box), but I'll definitely try at least the strawberry.

Thanks to Ayumi for the pictures. If you spot something new, be sure to let us know through email, twitter, facebook, etc.

Tried the Chocolate Malt - it's good! Nothing compares to proper fresh frozen custard, but it's nice to have something in the general vein on the market, what with B&J having killed off the egg yolk heavy Crème Brulee and the so very long gone Godiva never having made it back.. My SE MI Target had all 6.

Earlier this evening I tried both the Vanilla and Choc Malt flavors. My wife had brought home a $2 off coupon, and Stop & Shop had quarts on sale @3.49, so I wound up getting 2 QT for less than the usual price of one.

The vanilla was smooth and mild. Not an overwhelming blast of vanilla but smooth, creamy, and delicious. The choc malt was perhaps a bit understated—I like a more pronounced malt flavor—but succeeded nonetheless in its own mild way. This is not dessert for diets and I limited my consumption somehow to a quarter-cup (I measured) of each flavor. Would not surprise me if this isn't my last experience with Edy's Frozen Custard!

If you tasted the custard ice cream on the east coast, you will be sadly disappointment. I was. I hoped for that slick, smooth, sliding, custard feel in my mouth...and the rich taste. For me it was just another kind of vanilla.

Just called Dreyer's and requested a check for my money back. From the ad campaign in "Sunset" magazine I expected a "County Fair" bounty of flavor from my quart of Chocolate Malt I bought for a whopping $5.89. Instead I got a tasteless substance that had no chocolate (or malt) flavor at all. I told the rep on the phone that a "FudgIcle" had 10 times the flavor (that goes for even Yoo-Hoo!) for a lot lot less! Don't waste your money on this $12 a gallon rip-off!

Where's the vanilla? It is not listed in the ingredients (we know now what "natural flavors" means, yuck!). Why don't they just use real vanilla??? Very little vanilla flavor in the "Classic Vanilla". Not worth the money at all. I won't be buying it again. They need to get new tasters (chemists?).

For anyone who has had "real custard" these Edy's are going to really disappoint you.

Edy's has in NO WAY come close to what real custard should taste and feel like in your mouth. In fact, I'm quite sure you can't legally call these custards, custards at all due to the ingredients used in them.